Needleless connector having check valve with lip seal

Abstract

A valve member for a connector includes a head portion, a body portion, and a circumferential lip seal extending radially outward from an outer surface of the head portion. The head portion includes a top section defining a first seal portion. The body portion extends longitudinally from the head portion and defines a second seal portion at a proximal end thereof. The second seal portion is disposed distally to the first seal portion. The circumferential lip seal is disposed between the first and second seal portions.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A valve member for a connector, the valve member comprising:
 a head portion including a top section, an outer side surface, at least one notch, and a circumferential lip seal, the top section defining a top surface and a first seal portion, the first seal portion extending radially outward from the outer side surface, the at least one notch extending into the outer surface, and the circumferential lip seal comprising a flexible member extending radially outward relative to the outer side surface; and 
 a body portion extending longitudinally from the head portion to a distal end of the body portion, the body portion forming a flange at the distal end of the body portion, and a second seal portion at a proximal end of the body portion and distal to the first seal portion; 
 wherein the circumferential lip seal is disposed between the first and second seal portions, and extends radially outward from the outer side surface of the head portion to an outer perimeter of the circumferential lip seal that is continuous around the entire circumference of the head, such that the circumferential lip seal can deflect toward or away from the first seal portion, and the at least one notch is disposed between the circumferential lip and the second seal portion. 
 
     
     
       2. The valve member of  claim 1 , wherein a distance between the circumferential lip seal and the first seal portion is smaller than a distance between the circumferential lip seal and the second seal portion. 
     
     
       3. The valve member of  claim 1 , wherein a distance that the circumferential lip seal extends radially outward from the outer surface of the head portion is smaller than a distance between the circumferential lip seal and the first seal portion. 
     
     
       4. The valve member of  claim 1 , wherein the top section includes a top planar surface and the circumferential lip seal is oriented parallel to the top planar surface. 
     
     
       5. The valve member of  claim 1 , wherein the top section includes a top planar surface and the circumferential lip seal is oriented at a non-parallel angle with respect to the top planar surface. 
     
     
       6. The valve member of  claim 1 , wherein the head portion further comprises a column section defining an axial center of the head portion, and the circumferential lip seal is oriented substantially perpendicularly with respect to the axial center of the head portion. 
     
     
       7. The valve member of  claim 1 , wherein the head portion further comprises a column section defining an axial center of the head portion, and the circumferential lip seal is oriented at a non-perpendicular angle with respect to the axial center of the head portion. 
     
     
       8. The valve member of  claim 1 , wherein the head portion further comprises a column section defining an axial center of the head portion, and wherein the at least one notch is an arcuate-shaped recess within the column section. 
     
     
       9. The valve member of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the head portion or the circumferential lip seal comprises an elastomeric material. 
     
     
       10. The valve member of  claim 1 , wherein the circumferential lip seal comprises silicone or a silicone compound. 
     
     
       11. The valve member of  claim 1 , wherein the circumferential lip seal is positioned closer to the first seal portion than the second seal portion. 
     
     
       12. The valve member of  claim 1 , wherein the body portion is shaped as an elongate tubular member having an open end at the distal end of the body portion and a closed end proximal to the second seal portion of the body portion. 
     
     
       13. A needleless connector, comprising:
 a housing having a proximal end defining an inlet port of the housing, a distal end including a base defining an outlet port of the housing, and an inner surface defining an internal cavity extending between the inlet and outlet ports; and 
 a resilient valve disposed within at least a portion of the internal cavity and movably retained within the housing, the resilient valve comprising:
 a head portion including a top section, an outer side surface, at least one notch, and a circumferential lip seal, the top section defining a top surface and a first seal portion, the first seal portion extending radially outward from the outer side surface, the at least one notch extending into the outer surface; and 
 a body portion extending longitudinally from the head portion to a distal end of the body portion, the body portion forming a flange at the distal end of the body portion, and a second seal portion at a proximal end of the body portion and distal to the first seal portion; 
 the circumferential lip seal comprising a flexible member and extending radially outward from the outer side surface of the head portion and disposed between the first seal and the at least one notch of the head portion, and the at least one notch positioned between the circumferential lip and the second seal portion; 
 
 wherein, in a closed state of the resilient valve, the first seal portion and an entire perimeter of the circumferential lip is engaged against the inner surface of the housing, and in an open state of the resilient valve, a gap is formed between the inner surface of the housing and the first seal portion of the head portion, and the circumferential lip seal is engaged against at least a portion of the inner surface of the housing to obstruct fluid from flowing from the internal cavity towards and onto the top surface of the head portion, wherein the circumferential lip seal deflects toward the inlet port of the housing when the resilient valve moves from the closed state toward the open state. 
 
     
     
       14. The needleless connector of  claim 13 , wherein a distance between the circumferential lip seal and the first seal portion is smaller than a distance between the circumferential lip seal and the second seal portion. 
     
     
       15. The needleless connector of  claim 13 , wherein a distance that the circumferential lip seal extends radially outward from the outer surface of the head portion is smaller than a distance between the circumferential lip seal and the first seal portion. 
     
     
       16. The needleless connector of  claim 13 , wherein a diameter of the circumferential lip seal is greater than a diameter of the inner surface at the inlet port. 
     
     
       17. The needleless connector of  claim 16 , wherein the circumferential lip seal deflects to an inverted shape as the valve member reciprocates within the housing between the open state and the closed state. 
     
     
       18. The needleless connector of  claim 13 , wherein the top section includes a top planar surface and the circumferential lip seal is oriented parallel to the top planar surface. 
     
     
       19. The needleless connector of  claim 13 , wherein the top section includes a top planar surface and the circumferential lip seal is oriented at a non-parallel angle with respect to the top planar surface. 
     
     
       20. The needleless connector of  claim 13 , wherein the head portion further comprises a column section defining an axial center of the head portion, and the circumferential lip seal is oriented substantially perpendicularly with respect to the axial center of the head portion.